Sickle cell disease: a lethal advantage: Track 1

Featuring: VideoAudio

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that occurs in 1 in every 375 African Americans. There is currently no cure for this life-shortening disease. These five video tracks will help you to understand exactly what sickle cell disease is and answer many of the questions surrounding it. They'll also explain its hereditary nature in people of African descent. This material forms part of The Open University course SK195 Human genetics and health issues.

Take a look at some myths surrounding the disease, and discover how genetics can explain the mysteries. Dr Anthony Allison also discusses research he conducted in Africa in 1951.
Play now Slave ships and sickle cells

Over the past 30 years there has been a great advancement in how sickle cell disease is treated and managed. Go behind the scenes of The Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, one of ten specialist units in the United States dealing with sickle cell research and treatment.
Play now Sickle cells and societies

Many people have never heard of sickle cell disease. In this final track we examine how different media are being used to highlight the true nature of this disease.
Play now Transmitting genetic insights

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